Hydraulic power unit



Oct. 26, 1965 A. s. MELLINGER HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 29, 1963 INVENTOR. flATbW/Z K;- wax/M45? BY r 0a. 26, 1965A. G. MELLINGER 3,213,759

HYDRAULIC POWER UNI'L Filed March 29. 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 26,1965 A. e. MELLINGER HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March29, 1963 Y l-e z INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,213,759 HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT Arthur G. Mellinger,Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Arthur G. Mellinger, Inc., Lancaster, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 268,891 7Claims. (Cl. 91-126) This invention relates to rotating hydraulicapparatus and is particularly concerned with a rotary hydraulic unitespecially adaptable for use as a motor. More particularly still, thepresent invention relates to a hydraulic motor arrangement particularlywell adapted for driving a vehicle wheel.

Hydraulic motors are, of course, well known and take many forms,including piston type motors, gear motors and vane type motors. It iswith a vane type motor that the present invention is particularlyconcerned.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a vanetype hydraulic motor especially arranged and adapted for driving a loadsuch as a vehicle wheel.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel type vanemotor having both the inlet and outlet means on the same side of themotor and the output shaft extending from the other side of the motor.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a relatively simplevane motor construction.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a reversiblevane motor that will be substantially as efficient in one direction ofrotation as in the other direction of rotation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a vane motor in whichrelatively few vanes are employed but wherein there is a smooth andcontinuous delivery of power to the output shaft means of the motor.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore apparent upon reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the application ofhydraulic motors according to my invention to a vehicle drivearrangement;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an assembled motor;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the motor and is bestindicated by line 33 on FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view through the motor and isindicated by line 4-4 on FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view indicated by line 55 on FIGURE4 and shows a vane of the motor passing over a divider member thatseparates the pressure chambers of the motor from the exhaust chamberthereof;

FIGURE 6 is a view like FIGURE 5 and is indicated by the same sectionline but shows the vane after it has passed over the divider member andimmediately prior to the opening of the pressure port into the regionbehind the vane; and,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing a vane of the motor as it iscommencing to move up the approach incline of the aforementioned dividermember.

Referring now to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the motor of thepresent invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIGURES 1 and 2. InFIGURE 1 each motor 10 is connected for driving a vehicle wheel 12. Eachmotor has a pair of ports of which port 14 can be designated the inputport and port 16 can be designated the output port although it will beunderstood that for reversible operation of the motors, the function ofthese ports would also be reversible.

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Conduit 18 leads to the input ports and conduit 20 leads to the outputor exhaust ports and these conduits are connected to the service portsof a four-way reversing valve 22 which may be biased in one direction byspring 24 and moved in the other direction by a solenoid 26. A pump 28has its outlet connected with the inlet port of valve 22 while thesuction side of the pump is connected to reservoir 30 to which reservoirthe exhaust conduit 32 of valve 22 also leads.

Engine 34 drives pump 28 for supplying pressure fluid to valve 22 andtherefrom to the motors 10.

Each motor is constructed as will be seen in FIG- URES 3 through 7 andwherein it will be observed that the motor comprises an outer ring-likecasing part on one side of which is mounted a relatively heavy coverplate 42 retained in position by cap screws 44 and sealed to casing 40by gasket means 46.

Cover plate 42 has a central hub portion 48 in which are mounted theantifriction bearings 50 that rotatably support the motor output shaft52. Outwardly of bearings 5t) hub 48 includes sealings means 54 forsealing against leakage around shaft 52.

Shaft 52 is aflixed to or may be made integral with a rotor member 56locate-d inside casing part 40 and fitting closely within the casing.Rotor part 56 has circumferentially spaced slots 58 in an annular facein which are located the vanes 60 that are axially movable in the slotsand which are biased in a direction axially outwardly of the slots bythe springs 62.

The vanes 60 at their radially outer edges slidably engage the inside ofcasing member 40 and at their radially inner edges vanes 60 arepreferably rounded as indicated at 64 in FIGURES 4 and 7 and theserounded ends of the vanes are received in rounded grooves at theradially inner sides of the vane slots.

The casing part 40 comprises a radially inwardly extending part 66 thatextends inwardly to the radially inner ends of the vanes and forms aflat annular surface 68 directly opposed to the axially outer edges ofvanes 60.

The rotor 56 on the other hand has an axially extending skirt portion 70extending axially beyond the axially outer ends of the vanes and on downpast the aforementioned surface 68 so as to be in telescopic relationwith portion 66 of the casing, the said telescoping of the two partsbeing identified by reference numerals 72. At this point it will be seenthat the casing 40 and the inwardly extending portion 66 thereof and therotor 56 together with its axially extending portion 7 0 thereof definea closed annular path 71 through which the vanes 60 sweep as the rotorturns within the casing.

The aforementioned space 71 is confined at its outer periphery by theinner wall 74 of the casing and at its inner periphery is confined bythe outer wall 76 of the projection 70 of the rotor. The axially outersurface of this space is confined by the annular surface 68 of theprojection 66 of casing 40 while at the other side the space is confinedby the annular surface 58 of the rotor. This space is rectangular incross section.

As will be seen in drawings and particularly in FIG- URE 4, the space 71through which the vanes sweep is interrupted at circumferentially spacedpoints by cam members 80 that are secured to portions 66 of casing 40 bycap screws 82. Each of these cam members comprise a central radiallyextending bar-like portion 84 which extends from side to side and top tobottom of the space 71 so that the said bar-like portion of each cammember forms a dividing element in space 71 that prevents fluid movementpast the cam members.

Each cam member is also provided with an incline 86 on one side and anincline 88 on the other side which form approach and exit ramps forlifting and lowering the vanes as they move across the cam members. Eachcam member could, of course, have at least the exit ramps thereofextending the full width of the space through which the vanes sweep butI have found it practical to form these cam members as illustrated inthe drawings. 7

The fluid supply to the vanes when the motor is running in the normallyforward direction is accomplished by supplying pressure fluid to theinlet 14. Inlet 14 opens into the interior of a hollow hub member 90mounted on the casing 40 on the side thereof opposite output shaft 52.Inlet hub member 90 is held in place by cap screws 92 and is sealed tothe casing by a gasket 94. The interior of the hub member 90communicates with an opening 96 in the middle of the adjacent wall ofcasing 40 and this opening leads to the interior of a cylindrical valvemember 98.

Valve member 98 is stationarily mounted within the motor and comprises aperipheral cylindrical valve part or sleeve 100 that slidingly fitsinside cylindrical projection 70 of the rotor.

As will be seen in FIGURE 4, valve portion 100 is provided with spacedradial ports 102 for admitting fluid to the vanes of the motor. Ports102 cooperate with ports 104 formed in cylindrical portion 70 of therotor.

As will be seen in FIGURE 4 there are four of the cam members 80 whilethere are three of the vanes 60. There is a port 102 for each of the cammembers, namely four ports 102; while there is one of ports 104 for eachof the vanes 60, namely, three of the ports 104.

The ports 104 are located immediately behind their pertaining vanes whenthe motor is turning in its normally forward direction and the effectthat will be had with regard to the supply of pressure to the vanes willbe seen in FIGURE 4.

With respect to the vane at the left side, marked A, this vane has justfinished its movement down the exit ramp of the pertaining cam member sothat the space between vane A and the cam member immediately behind isnow ready to receive pressure fluid for driving the vane in thedirection of the arrow in FIGURE 4 which indicates normal forwardrotation of the motor.

It will be seen that the ports 102 and 104 pertaining to vane A are atthe point of opening so that there will be a supply of pressure fluid tothe region behind vane A which will drive it in the direction of thearrow.

The position which vane A will occupy after a predetermined amount ofmovement is represented by vane B which is about intermediate itsmovement between two cam members and it will be observed that the ports102 and 104 pertaining to vane B are in free communication and there isthus a supply of pressure fluid into the space behind vane B asindicated by arrow 106.

As a vane approaches the approach ramp of a cam member the ports 102 and104 pertaining thereto will gradually close off their communication andcommunication therebetween will be interrupted at about the time thevane reaches the said approach ramp.

The conditions that obtain when a vane is moving up the approach rampwill be seen in connection with vane C in FIGURE 4 wherein it will beobserved that the ports 102 and 104 pertaining to vane C are completelyout of communication with each other.

It is, of course, understood that each vane in moving from cam member tothe next will sweep oil out of the space 71 in front of the vane andthis oil leaves the motor through the exhaust ports 108 provided on theleading side of each cam member and leading into annular space 110 whichwill be best seen in FIGURE 3.

Annular space 110 is closed by an annular cover plate 112 held in placeby cap screws 114. This annular cover plate has an aperture 116 thatcommunicates with outlet port 16 that is carried by the annular member.

The valve member 98 is adjustable angularly within the motor foradjusting the valving conditions by mounting the valve member on a shaft118 that extends through the inlet hub 90.

This shaft is keyed by key 120 to tapered Plug member 122. A screw 124connects the plug member to the shaft. Tightening of screw 124 will pullthe plug member into tapered seat 126 provided therefor in hub 90whereas, by loosening screw 124, the wrench portion 128 of plug 122 canbe availed of for turning the plug thereby to adjust valve member 98angularly.

Inasmuch as there is a substantial amount of axial thrust on rotor 56 onaccount of the pressure fluid standing on only one side thereof, therotor arrangement preferably includes an annular thrust bearing 130disposed between the rotor and cover plate 42.

Bearing sleeves and the like could be provided elsewhere betweenrotating parts of the motor if desired and seal rings and the like couldalso be provided between relatively movable parts of the motor ifdesired or necessary.

The aforementioned springs 62 are arranged so as to be removable oradjustable in rotor 56 by having the bottom ends of the holes thereforin the rotor closed by the set screws 132. These set screws areaccessible through a hole 134 in cover plate 42 which holes can besealingly closed by a plate 136. By turning the rotor the screws 132 forthe several vanes can be made accessible.

While the rotor has been illustrated as having three vanes and four cammembers it will be understood that there could be a greater number ofcam members and vanes if so desired. It is preferred for the cam membersto always be one more than the vanes because this provides for makingthe vanes successively effective and provides for a smooth and uniformflow of power to the output shaft of the motor and likewise contributesto a relatively steady flow of fluid to and from the motor ports.

It will be appreciated that, while a certain direction of rotation hasbeen indicated for the motor as a normally forward direction ofrotation, in practice the motor is reversible and efiicient operatingconditions in both directions of rotation will be had.

It will further be appreciated that the arrangement of both of the portsfor the motor in one end thereof and with the output shaft extendingfrom the other end, adapts the motor extremely well to the work ofdriving vehicle wheels and the like or for installations where it mightbe desired to insert the motor in a cavity or to mount it in a wallmember or in any other place where limited access would be had to theperipheral portion of the motor casing.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; andaccordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary hydraulic device; a stator having a cylindrical cavitytherein, a rotor rotatable in said cavity and defining with said statoran annular space, on one side of said rotor, vanes axially slidablymounted in said rotor for sweeping through said space as the rotorrotates, partition members carried by the stator in said space dividingsaid space into a plurality of chambers and each partition member havinginclined ramp means on opposite sides for guiding the vanes over thepartition members, a first port in the stator on one side of eachpartition member, a second port in the stator intermediate each twoadjacent members, and third ports carried by the rotor opening into saidspace immediately adjacent each vane and adapted for registration withsaid second ports as the rotor rotates, said first, second and thirdports being located in said device on the same said one side ofsaidrotor.

2. In a rotary hydraulic deviceta stator having a cylindrical cavitytherein, a rotor rotatable in said cavity and defining with said statoran annular space rectangular in cross section on one side of said rotor,axially slidable vanes carried by said rotor for sweeping through saidspace as the rotor rotates, circumferentially spaced partition memberscarried by the stator dividing said space into a plurality of chambersand each partition member having inclined ramps on opposite sidesthereof for guiding the vanes over the partition members, first ports insaid stator opening into said space immediately adjacent said partitionmembers on one side thereof, second ports in said stator intermediatesaid partition members, a sleeve portion on said rotor positionedbetween said space and said second ports, and third ports in said sleevemember immediately adjacent said vanes and arranged for registrationwith said second ports as the rotor rotates in said cavity, said firstand second ports being adapted for connection to hydraulic pressure andexhaust lines for the supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid to andfrom said device, said first, second and third ports being located insaid device on the same said one side of said rotor.

3. In a rotary hydraulic device; a stator having a cylindrical cavitytherein, a rotor rotatable in said cavity and fitted therein to definewith the stator an annular space rectangular in cross section andlocated on one side of said rotor, axially slidable vanes carried by therotor for sweeping through said space as the rotor rotates,circumferentially spaced partition members carried by the stator anddividing said space into a plurality of chambers and each partitionmember having inclined ramps on opposite sides thereof for guiding thevanes over the partition members, a first port in the stator leadinginto said space on one side of each partition member, a second port insaid stator located intermediate each adjacent pair of partitionmembers, a skirt portion on said rotor disposed between said secondports and said space, and a third port in said skirt portion immediatelyadjacent each said vane and operable for successively connecting saidsecond ports with said space via said third ports as the rotor rotatesin said cavity, said vanes being uniformly circumferentially spacedabout said rotor and number of vanes exceeding the number of partitionmembers by one, said first, second and third ports being located in saiddevice on the same said one side of said rotor.

4. In a rotary hydraulic device; a stator having a cylindrical cavitytherein, a rotor rotatable in said cavity and fitted therein to definewith the stator an annular space rectangular in cross section andlocated on one side of said rotor, axially slidable vanes carried by therotor for sweeping through said space as the rot-or rotates,circumferentially spaced partition members carried by the stator anddividing said space into a plurality of chambers and each partitionmember having inclined ramps on opposite sides thereof for guiding thevanes over the partition members, a first port in the stator leadinginto said space on one side of each partition member, a second port insaid stator located intermediate each adjacent pair of partitionmembers, a skirt portion on said rotor disposed between said secondportion immediately adjacent each said vane and operable forsuccessively connecting said second ports with said space via said thirdports as the rotor rotates in said cavity, said rotor being axiallyslotted for receiving said vanes, the radially inner edges of said vanesbeing rounded, spring means carried by the rotor urging the vanes in theaxial direction of the rotor in the direction of the said space, androunded grooves in the rotor receiving the rounded ends of said vanes,said first, second and third ports being located in said device on thesame said one side of said rotor.

5. In a rotary hydraulic device; a stator having a cylindrical cavitytherein, a rotor rotatable in said cavity and fitted therein to definewith the stator an annular space rectangular in cross section andlocated on one side of said rotor, axially slidable vanes carried by therotor for sweeping through said space as the rotor rotates,circumferentially spaced partition members lying in a common plane andcarried by the stator and dividing said space into a plurality ofchambers and each partition member having inclined ramps on oppositesides thereof for guiding the vanes over the partition members, a firstport in the stator leading into said space on one side of each partitionmember, a second port in said stator located intermediate each adjacentpair of partition members, a skirt portion on said rotor disposedbetween said second ports and said space, and a third port in said skirtportion immediately adjacent each said vane and operable forsuccessively connecting said second ports with said space via said thirdports as the rotor rotates in said cavity, a valve member carried by thestator and including a cylindrical portion and engaging the said skirtportion of the said rotor on the side thereof opposite said space, saidcylindrical portion of said valve member having the said second portsformed therein, and means for supplying fluid to the interior of saidvalve member, said valve member being angularly adjustable with respectto said stator, said first, second and third ports being located in saiddevice on the same said one side of said rotor.

6. In a rotary hydraulic device; a stator having a cylindrical cavitytherein, a rotor rotatable in said cavity and fitted therein to definewith the stator an annular space rectangular in cross section andlocated on one side of said rotor, axially slidable vanes carried by therotor for sweeping through said space as the rotor rotates,circumferentially spaced partition members lying in a common plane andcarried by the stator and dividing said space into a plurality ofchambers and each partition member having inclined ramps on oppositesides thereof for guiding the vanes over the partition members, a firstport in the stator leading into said space on one side of each partitionmember, a second port in said stator located intermediate each adjacentpair of partition members, a skirt portion on said rotor disposedbetween said second ports and said space, and a third port in said skirtportion immediately adjacent each said vane and operable forsuccessively connecting said second ports with said space via said thirdports as the rotor rotates in said cavity, an annular chamber in thestator with which said first ports communicate, a fluid connectionleading to said annular chamber, a cylindrical valve sleeve inside saidskirt portion of said rotor connected with said stator and in which saidsecond ports are formed, a hollow hub on said stator communicating withthe inside of said valve sleeve, a fluid connection leading into saidhub, said valve sleeve being angularly adjustable relative to saidstator, and a drive shaft connected to said rotor and extending out thestator on the other side thereof.

7. In a rotary hydraulic device, a stator having a cylindrical cavitytherein, a rotor rotatable in said cavity and fitted therein to definewith said stator an annular space on one side of said rotor, said rotorhaving an annular face and a skirt depending from the top and the innerside wall of said space, said stator forming the outer side wall and thebottom of said space, said rotor having a plurality ofcir-cumferentially equally spaced slots in said annular face, axiallyslidable vanes carried by said rotor in said slots and biased towardsthe bottom of said space, circumferentially spaced partition memberslying in a common plane and secured to said stator at the bottom of saidspace and dividing said space into a plurality of chambers With eachpartition member having inclined ramps on opposed sides thereof forguiding the vanes over the partition members, said stat-or having afirst port leading into said space on one side of each partition member,a sleeve shaped valve member slidingly fitted within the skirt of saidrotor and augularly adjustably secured to said stator, said valve memberhaving spaced radial second ports therein located intermediate eachadjacent pair of said partition members, said skirt on said rotor havinga third port immediately adjacent each said vane and operable forsuccessively connecting said second ports with said annular space viasaid third ports as the rotor rotates in said cavity, the top and bottomof said annular 7 8 space lying in spaced parallel planes, conduit meansfor 1,175,140 3/16 Eisermann 91126 supplying fluid to the interior ofsaid valve member, and 2,606,422 8/52 Glenn 103139 a drive shaftconnected to said rotor extending out of FOREIGN PATENTS said stator,said conduit means and said first port means being located in saidstator on the same side of said 5 872,134 3/53 Germany.

rotor which is also opposite to the side of the rotor hav- 942,030 4/56Germany. ing the driving shaft extending therefrom. 503,742 4/39 GreatBritain.

References Cited y the Examiner KARL I. ALBRECHT, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH H. BRANSON, ]R., Examiner.

835,030 11/06 Mousseau 91126 X

1. IN A ROTARY HYDRAULIC DEVICE; A STATOR HAVING A CYLINDRICAL CAVITYTHEREIN, A ROTOR ROTATABLE IN SAID CAVITY AND DEFINING WITH SAID STATORAND ANNULAR SPACE, ON ONE SIDE OF SAID ROTOR, VANES AXIALLY SLIDABLYMOUNTED IN SAID ROTOR FOR SWEEPING THROUGH SAID SPACE AS THE ROTORROTATES, PARTITION MEMBERS CARRIED BY THE STATOR IN SAID SPACE DIVIDINGSAID SPACE INTO A PLURALITY OF CHAMBERS AND EACH PARTITION MEMBER HAVINGINCLINED RAMP MEANS ON OPPOSITE SIDES FOR GUIDING THE VANES OVER THEPARTITION MEMBERS, A FIRST PORT IN THE STATOR ON ONE SIDE OF EACHPARTITION, MEMBER, A SECOND PORT IN THE STATOR INTERMEDIATE EACH TWOADJACENT MEMBERS, AND THIRD PORTS CARRIED BY THE ROTOR OPENING INTO SAIDSPACE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT EACH VANE AND ADAPTED FOR REGISTRATION WITHSAID SECOND PORTS AS THE ROTOR ROTATES, SAID FIRST, SECOND AND THIRDPORTS BEING LOCATED IN SAID DEVICE ON THE SAME ONE SIDE OF SAID ROTOR.